Waiting on the Lord Transcription
What the baseball coach does not understand, and neither does the rest of the world, is that you cannot solve a spiritual problem by sense knowledge solutions. It's that simple when you have eyes to understand what's going on.
Evil is here. The devil's here. They cannot see the devil. The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him. They can't know him. They don't have the ability to know him. So they're actually in a fight with an enemy that they can't see; and they are throwing punches wildly to try to combat this; but their punches are missing.
Nobody suggested that we should get rid of all the airplanes because of what happened at the twin towers. That would be stupid. Right? The airplane didn't cause the problem. The evil in the person; the spirit of murder in the person did. It's just like the spirit of murder in that individual down in Texas caused the problem. And you cannot fix spiritual problems with sense knowledge solutions.
You can get rid all the guns you want. I'll guarantee you one thing: that a criminal will have the weapons that you don't have any more. They'll always have the weapons. So that's why they're never going to fix it. Why? Because they don't understand what's going on. And they don't understand that principle: you can't get rid of spiritual problems by senses solutions. And the world is full of senses men.
We're going to look in the Bible today on what I've entitled "Wait on the Lord". If you've been around, or if you've been around church people you've heard someone saying, and you've probably said yourself, "I'm waiting on the Lord." Usually you you say this after you pray about an important decision, or you pray about something you need in your life. So you're there, waiting.
There is a great truth to learning how to wait on God's answer for you.
Psalm 33:18-22 18Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.
21For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
Waiting for the Lord builds trust in Him and and it also helps you to be faithful.
(NIV)Isaiah 64:4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
(NIV)James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.
The farmer has to wait. He does what he has to do and then he has to wait.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
So it takes some patience when you're waiting for the Lord. And waiting for the Lord is a good thing as we saw. It builds trust, patience and excitement And for the most part, when people hear that you're waiting for the Lord, or you need to wait for the Lord, this is what they think of.
However, there's a deeper truth to waiting on the Lord or waiting for the Lord that alludes many Christians. And for some it's not understanding this truth and it hinders the believer from receiving the answer that he's waiting for.
Mark chapter 3 talks about a man being healed. The Lord Jesus Christ in verse 7 continues to move forward and he says:
Mark 3:7-10 7But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,
8And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
9And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
10For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
In verse nine we have another occurrence for the word "wait". But in the Greek this word "wait" doesn't mean to sit around waiting for something to happen. To me, when people say that they're waiting on the Lord.
We usually think that they're just patiently waiting for their answer from the Lord, but that's not what the word "wait" in Mark 3:9 means. Some people claim that they're waiting for an answer from God or they're waiting on the Lord to meet their need. But in reality they're just sitting idle.
That's the trick that you have to understand that the devil weeds in. They're not really waiting on the Lord. They may say they're waiting on the Lord, but they're just sitting idle. There is a tremendous difference between waiting on the Lord and being idle. To be idle implies to be lazy. It implies an emptiness; a hollowness.
To be idle implies inactivity. Some people who are waiting on the Lord are really just hollow. They may look and they may sound good but they lack believing service and action. That's a good description of religion.
People like to talk about things that like to present themselves as knowledgeable around God's Word and for God's Word. They like to use religious clichés. They like to appear spiritual but they lack service and they lack action.
Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Now everybody knows that. You can walk out to a tree. You can see if the fruit is good. You can go to the tree next to it, and you can see if that fruit is corrupt. A good fruit will be no blemishes, no disease, everything will be healthy. With bad fruit, the leaves will be eaten, the fruit will be discolored. Maybe there will be a worm who pops his head out of it and looks right you in the eye; as he's eaten the fruit.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that. You can see the fruit of an individual's life. Whether they say "I'm this", or whether they say "I am that". They can say whatever they want. See if I put a sign that says "good fruit" on a bowl of rotten some thing, does that sign make it good fruit? No. How do you tell if it's good fruit? You look at it, right?
It's the same with people. People can say whatever they want to say. They can talk religious. They can talk spiritual. They can present themselves as whatever. Look at their life: the fruit that they're bearing in their life. See?
Last time on Thursday night, Tina had a manifestation. She talked about the fruit of the spirit: peace, love, joy, etc. These are fruit. When you operate the spirit of God and you cultivate the spirit of God, this is what it produces.
If the tree's good, it will have good fruit. If the tree's bad it will have corrupt fruit; for a tree is known by his fruit. So are people. It doesn't matter what they say about themselves. It doesn't matter about their signs that they wear around their necks.They're known by their fruit. Don't be deceived.
It's that simple. A cherry is a cherry. A banana is a banana. A rotten banana is a rotten banana. and a good banana is yellow. You got it? It's that simple."
Matthew 12:34-37 34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Mark 3:9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
In Mark 3:9. the word "wait", here is the Greek word "proskartereó". Proskartereó. means "to be devoted to one; to be steadfastly attentive to;" It means to give unremitting care to someone. It means to be in constant readiness. That's what "to wait"means. To wait on the Lord is to be in constant readiness.
To be in constant readiness is to act immediately on the Master's direction. It's to be intently engaged. You can't wait on the Lord when you're out of fellowship in your life; when you're not right with God.
You see, we have an English word that's called a waiter. Okay, you know what a waiter is? A waiter is someone when you go to a nice restaurant; they come to your table and they serve you. Alright. Now, if you have a good waiter -- and if you've ever been to a good restaurant where you have a good waiter? Do you know what that waiter does? He stands off to the side and sometimes they may have a little towel. They stand ready and will watch you intently to see if you have a need.
And if you have a need, before you open your mouth, do you know what that waiter does? He's over there with the water glass or the water pitcher filling your glass; and if you get up and you go to the ladies room to powder your nose, do you know that waiter does? He gets this little thing out of his pocket. He goes over clears the crumbs off the table. He takes the napkin. He folds up to make it look like a pretty peacock again. and puts it back on your table. And when you come back, you know what your table is? It's beautiful.
You know why? Because he is attentive to your needs. His eyes are on you. He's looking at you, he's watching you. He is seeing if there's something he can do to serve you. That's a good waiter. He anticipates your need before you even say anything. Do you understand?
That's the word "waiter" and that's what it means to wait on the Lord. You see, a lot of people wait on the Lord: but it's how they wait. That will determine if they receive from the Lord what they're waiting for. And a lot of people are sitting idlily claiming that they're waiting on the Lord for the Lord's answer, and they never get it. And they want to put it on God, but the truth of the matter is it's people. That's what you call being idle and being deceived.
1 Timothy 5:11-13 11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
12Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
Okay. So this is talking about a woman who wants to wait on the Lord. She wants to be with God. She wants to serve Christ, and she doesn't have any time or any room in her life for anybody else now. But the Bible says that if she's of such an age where she still young, she's going to start to have sexual needs. She's gonna start thinking that way and her allegiance is going to turn away.
So knowing this is going to happen, Paul tells Timothy they're not ready. Let them marry. "Having judgment" is the word for "damnation" because they have cast off their first faith. And they learn to be idle. They learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
That's what happens when you're idle. You go around running your mouth saying things you shouldn't say, because you know nothing about them, and you tattle. You're a gossiper. That's not waiting on the Lord. That's self-deception and idleness.
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
They "continued" is the word "proskarteréó": it's the same word as "assembling" in Hebrews 10:25.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
They continued in one accord. They were attending constantly. They were nearby. They were willing. For the Master's calling: to hear him, to serve. Hebrews 10:25 says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is…" We're not supposed to forsake. See? … the assembling of ourselves. This is the assembling of ourselves. When you forsake that; when you count that not important. The
Bible says that's not a good thing. "…as a manner of some is… and so much the more, as ye see the day approaches." You should be more excited about the Word "…as a manner of some is… and so much the more, as ye see the day approaches." You should be more excited about the Word as you grow.
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Here, it's the word "steadfastly". They remained constant. They were in persistent adherence. See? They didn't forget. They didn't flip out. They didn't get lost.
Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,"And they, continued daily with one accord in the temple; breaking of bread from house to house, and did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart."
Here, it's the word "continue". For the next word is they continued how? Daily. That's waiting on the Lord: continuing daily. See? Serving daily. Standing and looking at him daily. What can I do for you today, Lord? What would you have me to do, Lord? Anticipating it in a person's life: serving. Do you understand? That's waiting on the Lord.
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
There's nothing wrong with waiting on the Lord. But the key is how are you waiting on the Lord? Are you sitting around being idle? Or are you actively, faithfully serving the Lord as you wait. That's the key. You wait on the Lord as you engage daily in the things of God. They continued how? Daily. Remember the apostles doctrine. It's a daily
thing.
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
It's the word "continually" here. That's waiting on the Lord. This is the word that was translated "waiting" in Mark. It's to continue in prayer and in the ministry of the Word.
Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Again, this is the word "continued".
Acts 10:7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
See? There is the word, "waited on him continually". He didn't call someone who just sit around being idle. Okay? He called someone who was engaged; who was active; who was serving; who was seeking to serve; who had his eyes on the master waiting to
obey the orders; waiting to obey the commands of the master. That's who he called. See?
That's waiting on the Lord: always being ready. Now, the word "proskarteréó" comes from two words. It's the word "prós", which means to be close by or at the side of and "karteréó" means "to endure patiently". It means "to bear up with fortitude". It takes courage, stamina, strength and resilience to wait on the Lord. That's what those words mean. It takes courage, stamina, strength and resilience to wait on the Lord.
You see, when you understand the difference between being idle and waiting on the Lord, then perhaps you'll be able to get some answers to your prayers. Perhaps you'll be able to get the needs met that you have been waiting for God to meet. You know, for some they pray, and then they just sit around. That's idle and that's why they don't get what they need in life.
Now, they may go around talking like they're spiritual. And they may go around saying and wearing a sign that says "I'm good fruit" on them; but all you gotta do is look at their life. Look at their mannerisms. Where are they?
You know, we got so many things today that just want to distract people. And you know, I guess it's legal to smoke pot in Pennsylvania; in Pennsylvania today. And you know, so many people get hooked on drugs and they just get whacked. And they say they're waiting on the Lord. And they are smoking dope; and so many people get buzzed and just drink -- three sheets to the wind --And they turn around and they say I'm waiting on the Lord.
You can't wait on the Lord if you're drinking like that. You're a liar and you're deceived. You can't wait on the Lord if you're chemically dependent on drugs. You are a liar and you're deceived. I don't care how spiritual you want to sound; but you are out of fellowship with God. Okay? It's just that simple.
And you want to say you're waiting on the Lord. You're not waiting on the Lord. You're idle and you're deceived. and do you know you're hurting? You are hurting yourself. That's who you're hurting. Because, according to my Bible, the meaning of the word "wait" means that you are attentive to; that you are actively engaged; that you are looking to serve. And your eyes are on the master.
And don't tell me your eyes are on the master when you're drunk; or where you're on drugs; or both. Okay? And don't tell me you need that for your life and make excuses of it. Because you'll always need it for your life if you go that route. That's not waiting on the Lord.
Romans 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
That's the word "attending continually". This is why you tithe and you abundantly share. See? Tithing and abundantly sharing is part of waiting on the Lord. If you want a tomato you've got to plant a tomato seed. You don't say "I want a tomato" and then sit around idly and say "I'm waiting on the Lord for tomatoes". You're not going to get a tomato that way. Ask any farmer. If you want a tomato, you plant a seed and then you wait on the Lord. and you continue to weed, you continue to water, and you continue to do whatever you need to do. You understand? That's waiting on the Lord.
That's why I say without action, it's not waiting. It's idleness. and people tricked themselves into thinking that God's going to supply something that they are not acting on.
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
It's the word "continue" here. See, to wait on the Lord is to be in constant readiness for one: that would be Jesus. To be in constant readiness for him: to be in constant readiness for God and to act immediately on the Master's directions. It's to be intently engaged with. To wait on the Lord is to continue in one accord in prayer and supplication. To wait on the Lord is to continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship in the breaking of bread and in prayers. To wait on the Lord is to give yourself continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. To wait on the Lord is to pay tribute to God's ministers; to tithe and abundantly share of your finances. To wait on the Lord is to continue to be thankful.
To wait on the Lord takes courage, stamina, strength and resilience. You've got to be able to bounce back when you're waiting on the Lord. Because God only knows the devil is going to hit you. To wait on the Lord is not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. It's not to go around being a busybody, gossiping, tattling and speaking of things that you shouldn't speak about; trying to knock other people down. To wait on the Lord is to be devout always; available always; attentive and willing to serve your master.
If you have a need and you're waiting on the Lord to meet that need; you might want to check to see that you're in the right waiting mode to receive. Are you waiting on the Lord, or are you just waiting idly? And if you can understand this, this will help you through your life and you won't trick yourself by saying things without action.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
You see? They're waiting on the Lord because they have work to do for the Lord and as you're doing that, God will provide for you and he will strengthen you. So I hope you understand the difference between what it is to be idle and to wait on the Lord.
Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you for the truth of it. And thank you, that we're just not hearers of the Word, but we can be doers of the Word. I thank you father as we wait on you for whatever the need may be. We wait in service. We wait in faithfulness. We wait always looking to you for the next step and direction that we may serve and bless people. We thank you for this in Jesus Christ's precious name. Amen.
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